Monday, March 22, 2010

the ultimate DIY project

I can't seem to think of anything but reupholstering my couch and chair. I tend to get this way when I come up with a new project.

Let me refresh your memory. Three years ago, I purchased an awesome couch and chair off craigslist for $75 total.

Whoever upholstered them didn't do a very good job. Not horrible, but not so good either. I normally advise people to admire them from a distance. And it drives me CRAZY that the pattern isn't centered and doesn't match up and doesn't even go in the same direction on the two pieces! Oh, and the back of the couch isn't even finished. It's more of a saggy patchwork mess.

Lately I have been wanting to change up my living room, but these pieces dictate the color scheme. I don't want to get rid of them, because I love their shape. So the only alternative is to reupholster. Right?

Being the list-driven person that I am, let's make a list of the pros and cons of this project. Cons first so we can end on a positive note.

CONS

1. I'm really good at starting projects. Finishing them? Not so much. This should be enough to deter me, but it never has in the past so why now? Remember the corduroy slipcover my mom helped me make for our other couch? She did most of the work. It only took us about 5 or 6 days to make...over the span of a year and a half. Mom--I promise I won't make you come do this project for me! (But if you wanted to come help a little, I wouldn't stop you...)

2. The innards of these pieces are probably more of a disaster than the upholstery job. Have you ever sat on them? It's an adventure. Could be pricey and time consuming to redo everything.

3. If I'm stripping the fabric, I'll probably want to fix the wood finish as well. (If you give a mouse a cookie...) Who in the world has time for that? Besides, I don't even know how.

4. Stains don't show up on the current upholstery. Stains would absolutely show up on whatever new fabric I chose. I'm sure of it. Not to mention the current fabric is pretty cool. I'm just tired of the colors.

5. I don't have time. Perhaps I should say that again. I don't have time.

PROS

1. I have confidence in myself. I'm pretty darn sure I can do something like this. Even if I didn't do a perfect job, they wouldn't look any worse than they do now!

2. I would finally be able to make whatever bright colored pillows I wanted. I wouldn't have to search and search for something that matched the red/gold couch.